Wares Ali Khan :
COP-26 Summit of the United Nations Climate Change Conference is utterly significant to bring together the leaders of contributing climate change and the affected countries on a unified platform. At this global event our country Bangladesh is significantly being focused to advocate as the contributing dealer of the affected countries, on behalf of the victim nations looking for benefits from the summit. For some consequential perceptiveness, this ongoing climate summit has drawn the attention of the global communities in multiple dimensions.
Industrially developed nations are mostly responsible for the huge creation of greenhouse gas (GHG) on the earth’s surface. Many nations including Bangladesh, because of unfavorable geo-position, are experiencing the impacts of climate-induced adversity on severe magnitudes. If the global community fails to reduce global warming within a rise of two degrees (ideally within 1.5 degrees), a goal which was set under the Paris Agreement earlier, almost half of victim developing nations will suffer extensively. Increasing threats of imbalance in environment and ecology, gradual temperatures rising, melting ice of polar region, sea levels rising, and frequent natural calamity- these will challenge human survival vigorously.
Global greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced at least 45% from current levels by 2030 if it is to achieve the target set by the Paris Agreement. And global coal usage in power generation must be cut back by 80%, which means developed countries must pledge to phase out coal by 2030 to avoid the perpetual catastrophe of climate change. Following the Paris Agreement, we all have to work for reducing greenhouse gas emissions at net zero by the middle of this century. And a rapid action to withdraw the use of harmful fossil fuels from the power sector has to be instituted throughout the world.
Developed countries have agreed to generate funds for climate finance with the required sum of money to tackle climate change through mitigation and adaptation. Earlier they have pledged to allocate 100 billion dollars annually to support the poorest nations by 2020. According to pertinent data, it is seen that people in some of the world’s poorest countries are receiving just one dollar per capita a year to cope with climate adversities. Developing countries, facing ultimate climate change risks, need to be provided adequate monetary compensation. By the way, it is exigent for our country to keep bargaining continued as we do not have sufficient backup resources, and technical capacities to combat the impacts of climate change. Otherwise, our efforts to lessen the magnitude and the gravity of threats of climate vulnerability with our limited resources will surely go hard-fought.
The use of fossil fuels has been declined during the ongoing pandemic, but there is an upward trend in fossil fuel investment funds. As of now, nearly 81% of the world’s total energy comes from fossil fuels. Since the use of non-renewable energy has been increasing alarmingly for decades, we might move towards a Non-Proliferation Treaty of using fossil fuels. Poor nations must be provided with both technical assistance and a handsome amount of grants from the developed ones to depart from fossil fuels. In that respect, there is no substitute for global cooperation and partnership-based comprehensive initiatives. As Bangladesh is one of the most affected countries, it has no choice but to take potential action to assert its rights as a victim country.
It is also imperative for Bangladesh to set up a long-term goal for Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to reduce the emission of carbon. To adapt to the effects of climate change and increase the use of alternative energy, our country might head to undertake eco-friendly and cost-efficient energy-generating ventures. The government needs to be more robust and plan to move towards clean air and renewable energy, just as a timely move to have a climate-resilient transformation. So, the government should necessarily formulate the green energy generation policy, and reconsider the future investment in the fossil fuels-dependent mega power projects in the country.
To combat climate change perspectives, protect biodiversity, and accelerate growth to achieve the goals of a sustainable environment all nations must limit greenhouse gas emissions. Albeit it is no more the absolute issue for Bangladesh, yet we must come up with affordable measures, so far we can contribute to trimming down carbon emissions for our better existence and safer living in the future.
(Mr. Khan is an Academic & Development Counsellor).
